Executive Summary:
The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025, was approved by the President on August 13, 2025. This Act enables the reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in Goa's Legislative Assembly, as per Article 332 of the Constitution, to ensure effective democratic participation. It provides for readjustment of seats in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa necessitated by inclusion of certain communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Act tasks the Census Commissioner with estimating the Scheduled Tribe population and the Election Commission with amending the Delimitation Order accordingly.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Short Title and Commencement:**
* The Act is titled "The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025."
* It comes into force on a date appointed by the Central Government via official notification.
* **Definitions:**
* Defines key terms such as "Census Commissioner," "Commission" (Election Commission), "Delimitation Act," "Delimitation Order," "last census" (census held in India in 2001), "Scheduled Tribes Orders," and "State" (State of Goa).
* **Estimation of Population:**
* The Census Commissioner will ascertain or estimate the Scheduled Tribes population in Goa based on the last census.
* The Census Commissioner will also determine any variations in the population due to amendments in the Scheduled Tribes Orders and notify these figures in the Gazette of India.
* Notified population figures are final and not subject to legal challenge.
* **Readjustment of Seats by the Commission:**
* Following population notification, the Election Commission will amend the Delimitation Order to ensure proper representation for Scheduled Tribes, considering Articles 170 and 332 of the Constitution, Section 8 of the Delimitation Act, and this Act.
* The Commission will publish amendment proposals, specify a consideration date, consider objections/suggestions via public sittings, and then finalize amendments.
* **Procedure and Powers of Commission:**
* The Commission determines its procedure and has the powers of a civil court, including summoning witnesses, requiring document production, and requisitioning public records.
* The Commission can require individuals to furnish relevant information.
* **Publication of Amendments:**
* Amendments to the Delimitation Order will be published in the Gazette of India and the Official Gazette of Goa, having the force of law and not subject to legal challenge.
* Amendments will be laid before the House of the People and the Legislative Assembly of the State.
* Readjustment of seats will apply to elections after the publication of amendments, superseding previous representation provisions.
* Existing representation in the Legislative Assembly remains until dissolution.
* **Other Powers of Commission:**
* The Commission can correct printing errors or update the Delimitation Order due to boundary or name changes of districts or territorial divisions.
* Notifications under this section must be laid before the House of the People and the Legislative Assembly of the State.
* **Power to Remove Difficulties:**
* The Central Government can address difficulties in implementing the Act via orders published in the Official Gazette, provided they are consistent with the Act.
* Orders must be laid before each House of Parliament.
* This power expires two years after the Act's commencement.
Impact Analysis:
* **Scheduled Tribes of Goa:**
* Impact: Increased representation and a greater voice in the Legislative Assembly through reserved seats, promoting effective democratic participation.
* Action Required: Engage in the political process and participate in elections to ensure their representation.
* **Election Commission:**
* Impact: Responsible for amending the Delimitation Order to reflect the readjusted representation of Scheduled Tribes.
* Action Required: Review population data, propose amendments, consider objections, and publish the revised Delimitation Order.
* **Census Commissioner:**
* Impact: Tasked with ascertaining or estimating the population of Scheduled Tribes in Goa.
* Action Required: Gather and analyze census data, account for any variations due to amendments in the Scheduled Tribes Orders, and notify the population figures in the Gazette of India.
* **Central Government:**
* Impact: Oversees the implementation of the Act and has the power to address any difficulties that may arise.
* Action Required: Monitor the implementation process, address any challenges, and issue orders as necessary to ensure the Act's effective operation.
* **Parliament (House of the People) and Legislative Assembly of Goa:**
* Impact: Amendments to the Delimitation Order and any orders issued to address difficulties must be laid before them.
* Action Required: Review and consider the amendments and orders laid before them.
* **General Public:**
* Impact: The readjustment of constituencies may affect which representative represents their geographical area.
* Action Required: Stay informed about the changes to constituency boundaries and the representatives in their area.
Key Entities Referenced
The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025: An Act of Parliament enabling reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of Goa and providing for the readjustment of seats.
Parliament: The legislative body that enacted The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025.
Constitution of India: The supreme law of India, specifically article 332, which is relevant to the reservation of seats.
State of Goa: The specific state to which the Readjustment of Representation Act, 2025 applies, concerning the Scheduled Tribes in its Assembly Constituencies.
Election Commission: The body, as referred to in Article 324 of the Constitution, responsible for making amendments to the Delimitation Order.
Delimitation Act, 2002: A law related to the delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies in India.
Delimitation Order: The Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008, which the Election Commission is tasked to amend.
Census Commissioner: The authority responsible for ascertaining or estimating the population of Scheduled Tribes in the State of Goa based on the last census.
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MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
(Legislative Department)
New Delhi, the 13th August, 2025/BShilrlaNvaon.a1 2024,- F19o4f7 2(0Sa2k4a)
The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the
13th August, 2025 and is hereby published for general information:—
THE READJUSTMENT OFREPRESENTATION OF SCHEDULED
THE READJUSTMENT OF REPRESENTATION OF
TRIBES IN ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES OFTHESTATE OF
SCHEDULED TRIBES IN ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES OF
GOA BILL, 2025
THE STATE OF GOA ACT, 2025
(AS PASSED BNY oTH. E2 H 1 OoUfS E2S0 O2F5 PARLIAMENT)
A [13th August, 2025.]
BILL
An Act for enabling reservation of seats in accordance with article 332 of
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BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of
Indiaasfollows:—
1. (1) This Act may be called the Readjustment of Representation of Short title and
ScheduledTribesinAssembly Constituencies oftheState of GoaAct, 2025. commencement.
(2) It shall come into force on such date as the CentralGovernment may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
2.In this Act, unless the context otherwiserequires,— Definitions.
(a)“Census Commissioner” means the Census Commissioner appointed
37 of 1948. under sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Census Act, 1948;2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [Part II—
(b) “Commission” means the Election Commission referred to in
article 324 of the Constitution;
(c)“Delimitation Act” means the Delimitation Act, 2002; 33 of 2002.
(d) “Delimitation Order” means the Delimitation of Parliamentary and
Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008;
(e)“last census” means the census held in India in 2001;
(f) “Scheduled Tribes Orders” means the Constitution (Scheduled
Tribes) Order, 1950, and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Union C.O. 19.
Territories) Order, 1951, as amended from time to time, made by the President C.O. 32.
under article 342 of the Constitution;
(g)“State” means the State of Goa.
Estimation of 3.(1) As soon as may be after the commencement of this Act, the population
population of as at the last census of the Scheduled Tribes in the State shall be ascertained or
Scheduled
estimated by the Census Commissioner.
Tribes.
(2) Where by reason of the amendments made in the Scheduled Tribes
Orders after the last census and up to the date of commencement of this Act, the
population of the Scheduled Tribes as at the last census is varied in the State, the
Census Commissioner shall ascertain or estimate as on the date of such
commencement, the population of the Scheduled Tribes so varied, and also
ascertain or estimate the proportion of such population of the Scheduled Tribes to
thetotal population of the State.
(3)The population figures ascertained or estimated under sub-section (2) shall
be notified by the Census Commissioner in the Gazette of India.
(4) The population figures so notified shall be taken to be the relevant
population figures and shall replace any figures previously published as ascertained
or estimated at the last census; and the figures so notified shall be final and shall not
be called in question in any court.
Readjustment of 4. (1) After the population figures have been notified for the State under
seats by section 3, the Commission shall make such amendments as may be necessary in the
Commission.
Delimitation Order, having regard to the provisions of articles 170 and 332 of the
Constitution, of section 8 of the Delimitation Act, and of this Act, for the purpose
of giving proper representation to the Scheduled Tribes of the State, and the Second
Schedule to the Representation of the People Act, 1950 shall be deemed to have 43 of 1950.
been amended accordingly.
(2) In making any amendments in the Delimitation Order under
sub-section (1), the Commission shall, as far as may be necessary, have regard to
the provisions of clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 9 of the Delimitation Act.
(3)The Commission shall—
(a)publish its proposals for the amendments in the Gazette of India and
the Official Gazette of the State and also in such other manner as it thinks fit;
(b) specify a date on or after which such proposals will be further
considered by it;
(c) consider all objections and suggestions which may have been
received by it before the date so specified and for such consideration hold one
or more public sittings at such place or places in the State as it thinks fit; and
(d)thereafter make necessary amendments in the Delimitation Order.Sec. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 3
5. (1) In the discharge of its functions under this Act, the Commission shall Procedure and
determine its own procedure and shall have all the powers of a civil court under the powers of
Commission.
5 of 1908. Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, while trying a suit, in respect of the following
matters, namely:—
(a)summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses;
(b)requiring the production of any document; and
(c)requisitioning any public record from any court or office.
(2)The Commission shall have the power to require any person to furnish any
information on such points or matters as, in the opinion of the Commission, may be
useful for, or relevant to, any matter under the consideration of the Commission.
(3) The Commission shall be deemed to be a civil court for the purposes of
46 of 2023. sections 384 and 385 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
(4)For the purposes of enforcing the attendance of witnesses, the local limits
of the jurisdiction of the Commission shall be the limits of the territory of India.
6. (1) The Commission shall cause the amendments made by it in the Publication of
Delimitation Order to be published in the Gazette of India and in the Official Gazette amendments and
their dates of
of the State.
operation.
(2)Upon publication in the Gazette of India, every such amendment shall have
the force of law and shall not be called in question in any court.
(3) As soon as may be after such publication in the Gazette of India, every
such amendment shall be laid before the House of the People and the Legislative
Assembly of the State.
(4) Subject to any law that may govern readjustment and subject to the
provisions of sub-section (5), the readjustment of seats in the Legislative Assembly
of the State necessitated by any amendments made by the Commission in the
Delimitation Order and provided for in that Order as so amended shall apply in
relation to every election to the Assembly, held after the publication of such
amendments in the Gazette of India and shall so apply in supersession of the
provisions relating to representation as provided in the Representation of the
43 of 1950. People Act, 1950.
(5)Nothing in the foregoing sub-sections shall affect the representation in the
Legislative Assembly of the State until the dissolution of the Assembly, existing on
the date of publication in the Gazette of India of the amendments in the Delimitation
Order made by theCommission.
7.(1) The Commission may, from time to time, by notification in the Gazette Certain other
of India and in the Official Gazette of the State,— powers of
Commission.
(a) correct any printing mistake in the Delimitation Order as amended
under this Act, or any error occurring therein from any inadvertent slip or
omission; and
(b) where the boundaries or the name of any district or any territorial
division mentioned in the said Order are or is altered, make such amendments
as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for bringing the Order up-to-date.
(2)Every notification under this section shall be laid, as soon as may beafter
it is issued, before the House of the People and the Legislative Assembly of the
State.4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [Part II—Sec.1]
Power to remove 8.(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the
difficulties.
Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such
provisions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as appear to it to be
necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty:
Provided that no order shall be made under this section after the expiry of a
period of two years from the commencement of this Act.
(2) Every order made under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may be
after it is made, before each House of Parliament.
—————
NEW DELHI;
DR. RAJIV MANI,
August 13, 2025
Secretary to the Govt. of India.
Shravana 22, 1947 (Saka)
UPLOADED BY THE MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, MINTO ROAD, NEW DELHI–110002
AND PUBLISHED BY THE CONTROLLER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI–110054.
MGIPMRND—158GI(S4)—13-08-2025.